'New technologies help us build a caring culture where nobody feels alone'
Karen MorrisFor many companies, the lasting impact of the pandemic has been a profound one, most notably the increase in the reliance of homeworkers and a rapid change to new and unfamiliar ways of working.
It firmly established itself as a point in time where companies had to look at their mental health efforts – how could they ensure their dispersed workforce was able to stay engaged, stick together and talk about how they’re feeling through technology?
As a result of this shift in working, according to the Office for National Statistics, there are now around 40% of adults opting to work from home, so we must be conscious of not letting efforts to support our homeworkers from this time fade – the importance of mental health must go well beyond those events.
As an employer you need to attract and retain the best talent who want to be associated with and a part of something that places people first. The recent increases in the number of homeworkers has meant prospective candidates have the opportunity to more selective; it’s no longer firstly based on location, so companies need to do all they can by way of their mental health support.
At Travel Counsellors, we have seen how being part of a community connected through technology can be instrumental in supporting people, and this all begins with communication – encourage your teams to speak up.
Creating opportunities to talk openly and honestly, as well as listen, is so important. Use technology to your advantage and implement a platform that enables you to have a 24/7 internal online forum to talk to your peers and colleagues no matter the time zone or wherever you are in the world, means that even when working remotely, you’re never alone.
It also means you will continue to build a caring and supportive culture where communities feel comfortable to help each other and reach out for help. This goes hand-in-hand with being open to feedback – have a dedicated area where homeworkers can share their thoughts on what else can be implemented to help them, as well as regular surveys to gauge sentiment.
For example, this approach has worked well at Travel Counsellors as we have just launched a new “Breaking Barriers” initiative offering a support group for colleagues who have children/young adults with additional needs.
In addition, a common misconception about homeworking is that it means you’re alone – which isn’t necessarily the case.
Being part of a team linked through technology means it’s much easier for homeworkers to work together and stay connected to their peers. Another option is to host a variety of events throughout the year as a way of bringing people together face to face, be it a social event or a conference to update on work – it will really do its bit to make sure everyone truly feels a part of the special community that they belong to and build on their personal connections, no matter where they choose to work from.
Finally, look at training opportunities to support your homeworkers with their mental health. We’re encouraging our team to stay curious through learning new skills, which not only fosters a fantastic sense of achievement once completed, it’s a great way to keep our minds busy.
There’s a whole host of free training materials and information available, plus many businesses now have partnerships with external mental health support services for added support, like the one we have with Able Futures. In fact, we’ve just announced a refreshed training course for anyone in our community to apply to become a mental health first aider, a great opportunity for learning and knowledge sharing.
We must be mindful of the legacy that the tough events of recent years have left, as well as look forward to a bright future thanks to the myriad of ways technology can play an instrumental part in connecting people.
It is evident that an employer which embeds a strong culture of wellbeing and that is supportive and cares will reap the rewards through a more engaged, loyal and productive workforce. We have a duty of care to ensure that we are doing everything we can to continuously improve our offering for our homeworkers – workplace mental health and wellbeing has never been more crucial.
Karen Morris is engagement director at Travel Counsellors
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